By SOMSACK PONGKHAO
The Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE, LAOS: A number of families in Laos' Bonkeo province have been forced to relocate due to massive erosion along the Mekong River. And the situation has been worsening.
In response to the problem, the Lao National Mekong Committee, in cooperation with the Mekong River Commission's Flood Management and Mitigation Programme, will conduct a survey on Mekong riverbank erosion in Tonpheung district of Bokeo province in June or July, an official said Friday (8 Feb).
The survey will be used for an upcoming embankment-building project in the district, after many families living along the river have been forced to relocate due to massive erosion.
A senior official from the Lao National Mekong Committee, Sourasay Phoumavong said the average extent of erosion this year was about 10m wide and up to 1km long.
“In some areas, the erosion extends to around 20m. If the situation continues like this, more villagers will be forced to move up to the mountains,” he said.
He said the erosion was due to embankments on the Thai side, which had caused changes in water flow, and had a severe effect on the Lao side of the river.
Officials have said the increase in river transport has also played a part in erosion, and authorities are greatly concerned about the continued loss of land every year.
Bokeo province Deputy Governor Amphone Chanthasombounsaid two years ago, residents of two villages were relocated from erosion sites.
“The urban part of Tonpheung district has been seriously affected by erosion,” he said.
Once the survey is complete, a project proposal for the embankment will be submitted seeking assistance from various donors.
Sourasay said several countries had expressed interest in funding this project, including the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Belgium and Finland, but all were waiting for more detailed information about the project.
He added that there would be a meeting in March this year to discuss the survey, bringing together representatives from Laos , Cambodia , Viet Nam and Thailand , as well as observers of the Mekong River Commission -- China and Myanmar .
However, Sourasay said, the government has already begun to address the issue by encouraging villagers to replace eroded land with rocks, as a way of stalling the complete erosion of the banks.
Bank erosion is also a serious issue in Vientiane and the provinces of Khammuan and Borikhamxay, where some villagers have lost their farmland.
In response to the problem, the Lao National Mekong Committee, in cooperation with the Mekong River Commission's Flood Management and Mitigation Programme, will conduct a survey on Mekong riverbank erosion in Tonpheung district of Bokeo province in June or July, an official said Friday (8 Feb).
The survey will be used for an upcoming embankment-building project in the district, after many families living along the river have been forced to relocate due to massive erosion.
A senior official from the Lao National Mekong Committee, Sourasay Phoumavong said the average extent of erosion this year was about 10m wide and up to 1km long.
“In some areas, the erosion extends to around 20m. If the situation continues like this, more villagers will be forced to move up to the mountains,” he said.
He said the erosion was due to embankments on the Thai side, which had caused changes in water flow, and had a severe effect on the Lao side of the river.
Officials have said the increase in river transport has also played a part in erosion, and authorities are greatly concerned about the continued loss of land every year.
Bokeo province Deputy Governor Amphone Chanthasombounsaid two years ago, residents of two villages were relocated from erosion sites.
“The urban part of Tonpheung district has been seriously affected by erosion,” he said.
Once the survey is complete, a project proposal for the embankment will be submitted seeking assistance from various donors.
Sourasay said several countries had expressed interest in funding this project, including the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Belgium and Finland, but all were waiting for more detailed information about the project.
He added that there would be a meeting in March this year to discuss the survey, bringing together representatives from Laos , Cambodia , Viet Nam and Thailand , as well as observers of the Mekong River Commission -- China and Myanmar .
However, Sourasay said, the government has already begun to address the issue by encouraging villagers to replace eroded land with rocks, as a way of stalling the complete erosion of the banks.
Bank erosion is also a serious issue in Vientiane and the provinces of Khammuan and Borikhamxay, where some villagers have lost their farmland.
1 comment:
A British electronics retailer's survey concluded that 47% of men would give up sex for six months in order to get a free 50-inch Plasma TV.
Post a Comment